Hot Family How-Tos

How To: Make a simple paper penguin with your kids

Although most people won't see a penguin in its natural environment, they're still a wonderfully captivating animal that the kids just can't get enough of. So, make sure you and your kids get over to the zoo and check some penguins out, then go home and create some penguins of your own. It could be made in a cold or hot climate! This penguin stick puppet is perfect for an afternoon of fun crafts with the kids. You'll need the following materials:

How To: Make a recycled doll's broom with your kids

Start teaching your children the art of recycling… and the art of crafting. Making this recycled doll's broom is perfect for any young girl who enjoys beauty and you figurines. A crafty broom will help Barbie learn responsibility, and teach your young ones about helping their environment out. This doll's broom is made from real evergreen leaves, along with a popsicle sticks and some tape. Easy!

How To: Make foam gaillardia amber wheel flowers with the kids

Gaillardia may be a foreign word to you, unless you're a botanist or flower enthusiast, but the gaillardia plant can be simply defined as a daisy. The American plant is usually cultivated for its bright red and yellow flowers, but it can also be the perfect craft project with the kids. This video will show you how you and your kids can make a foam amber wheel of gaillardias, which will surely please your young ones. To make this flower wheel, you'll need:

How To: Make a googly-eyed paper cat on a popsicle stick

Everyone loves cats, for the most part. It would be more accurate to say that everyone loves kittens. No one can resist the cuteness of brand new baby kitty, especially children, which is why kittens and cats make the perfect craft project for kids. In this video, you'll learn how you and your kids can create a googly-eyed paper cat upper on a popsicle stick. It's great for any young child. You'll need:

How To: Make a paper tulip flower with your kids

This isn't your standard origami for kids. It's more like "craft-igami". The difference is the glue. Origami is strictly and art with paper— no epoxies required, but when you throw a little glue into the mix, it becomes the perfect kids project. This paper tulip flower is the perfect paper project to start out your children in the wonderful world of paper crafts. To make this paper tulip with your kids, you'll need:

How To: Make a plastic bottle sasanqua (camellia) flower

Don't know what a sasanqua is? It's a well-known Japanese camellia with fragrant white or pink flowers. Also, it has seeds that yield tea oil. Now that you know the simple facts, you can teach them to you children as you teach them how to create a plastic bottle version of the wonderful camellia flower. To make this flower with your kids, you'll need the following materials:

How To: Make a colorful paper bracelet with your kids

This is kind of like origami, except there is some glue involved, which diehard origamists would call cheating, but when it comes to your children, it's the perfect kids craft that they can enjoy year round! Making colorful paper bracelets is easy and fun for both you and your child. The perfect afternoon activity, and all you'll need to make one is:

How To: Make egg carton flowers with your kids

Some of the best kids activities are done right in your own home, recycling everyday items. For instance, an egg carton. What could you possibly make out of an old egg carton? This video will show you exactly what you could do! See how to make egg carton flowers. These decorative flowers can proudly be displayed anywhere. All you and your kid will need are:

How To: Protect children from high bath water temperatures

Giving your kid a bath is an integral part of child care. What's that saying? Cleanliness is next to Godliness? Okay, maybe not, but a clean baby is a great sight, but there are things to worry about when filling up the bathtub. Could the water temperature be too hot? NFPA's Amy LeBeau on the importance of testing the temperature of bathwater before putting children into the tub. Safety also comes first.

How To: Babysit an infant

Babysitting is the prime teenage job for young women to start learning responsibility and earning a wage, but it isn't all fun and games… you are dealing with an infant, which is far from fun, but it's money in your pocket. Earning a little extra money babysitting infants can be more fun — and a lot easier — than schlepping food at your local diner.

How To: Use a magnifying glass with Sid the Science Kid

In this video, Sid the Science Kid shows us how to use a magnifying glass. When you first grab it, look at your hands through the glass, and then your friends! Look at their hands, eyes, skin and explore the world around you. Look around at everything around you and notice if it makes things larger. Look at small insects like roly-polies, to see how they move and how many legs they have. A magnifying glass is a great way to explore science and make little things much bigger. Children should w...

How To: Discipline your toddler without spanking

At one time or another, every parent has thought about taking off the belt, but that's frowned upon in our current society, perhaps even illegal. Even using you hand could be too harsh for the child's sake, but there are ways to get your unruly tot under control. Toddlers are often headed for trouble, but you can steer them in the right direction without spanking.

How To: Craft a pom-pom ladybug with your kids

In this tutorial, we learn how to craft a pom-pom ladybug with your kids! The materials you will need are: 1 large red pom pom, 1 medium black pom pom, 1 pipe cleaner, 2 googly eyes, and one piece of lace. Start off by gluing the black and red pom pom's together with a hot glue gun. Next, use a hot glue gun to glue the googly eyes onto the black pom pom. Now glue black pipe cleaner around the red pom pom to make a stripe on the back of the ladybug. cut the pipe cleaner into little round shape...

How To: Craft a simple shell necklace with your kids

In this tutorial, we learn how to make a simple shell necklace with your kids. To make this, you will need: a sea shell, a hot glue gun, and a necklace string. First, tie your string into a knot at the end of it. Next, grab your shell and apply glue with the hot glue gun to the inside base of it. Now, press the knot that you just made onto the glue in the shell. Let this set up until the glue is completely dried, and you're finished! You can apply more glue to the top if you want a more secur...

How To: Workout during your second trimister with Joel Harper

In this tutorial, Joel Harper teaches us how to work out during your second trimester. You will need a couple of hand weights and a sturdy chair to do this work out. Start off by marching with the weights and then lift your arms into the air with 15 counts each. Do a slight lunge while you are doing these arm raises. Next, sit in the chair and list the weights up in the front and on the side. Now, move your chair and place your feet apart, then look behind you as you open your chest up. To fi...

How To: Take your baby's rectal temperature

In this tutorial, we learn how to use a rectal thermometer with a baby. This is the best to use for an infant six months or younger. Any fever could be serious, especially in the first 3 months. First, apply petroleum jelly to the baby's rectum and lift its legs in the air. Gently slide the thermometer into the rectum and wait until the temperature reads out. This will often stimulate the bowel movements of the baby, so make sure you keep wipes or paper towels near by for when you're finished...

How To: Donate sperm to a sperm bank

In this clip, Nathan will tell you all about donating sperm. If you would like to give the gift of a child to a woman in need and would like to learn how to donate, check out this tutorial. You will get a rundown of what the process is like as well as how often you can donate and what the compensation and timing is like.

How To: Get an Ivy League scholarship

Ivy League schools are a students wet dream, but not everyone can get into them. Even fewer get scholarships for them. But in recent years, Ivy League universities have raised the number of scholarships they award to students. More students are seeking awards, making the application process for these scholarships very competitive.

How To: Spot and avoid MSG (monosodium glutamate)

MSG is scary. MSG is often used as a flavor enhancer and is put into your foods to trick your brain into thinking you're happier while you eat them. MSG is very controversial and while it is still FDA approved, is not recommended for consumption. If you would like to get all the facts on MSG and know exactly which foods to look out for, watch this tutorial from Food Facts. You will learn all the secret names that MSG hides under and how to keep your kids away from this evil offender.

How To: Keep your kids healthy & avoid Lunchables

Do you feed your kids the yellow box lunch? Sure, it's easier than making a sandwich from scratch - but what's easy is usually not healthy. Check out this clip and learn all about the dangers lurking inside the iconic yellow box. Lunchables are full of chemicals, fats, sodium and calories.. watch this Food Facts clip and keep your family healthy.

How To: Choose the healthiest cheese puffs for your kids

Kids love Cheetos. There's nothing better than those crispy sticks and the joy of licking your orange fingertips when you finish. Or is there? Watch this Food Facts tutorial and learn why you should keep your family far away from Cheese doodles and other types of puffs. This clip will give you a basic rundown of all the mysterious ingredients inside these snacks and offer advice on finding much healthier alternatives for your family.

How To: Recognize and avoid food dye Yellow 5 in kids foods

In this tutorial, learn all about our most controversial food dye Yellow number 5 is linked to conditions like cancer, ADHD and is believed to actually remove the essential nutrient, Zinc, from our bodies. Get all the facts about Yellow 5 and know which foods it is in. A vast majority of children's snacks contain this ingredient, so watch out! And learn what natural ingredients you can use to substitute for this artificial intruder.

How To: Care for your children's eyes

In this tutorial, we learn how to care for kid's eyes. First, make sure you get an eye exam for your children at a young age. This should occur while they are in pre-school. This can help track any problems with the eyes and see if they are developing correctly. Make sure to have the eyes checked out by a professional every year after the initial visit to the eye doctor. If you don't have insurance, there are many places out there that participate in programs for free eye exams. Next, make su...